Proposal Guidelines

FUNDING CATEGORIES

The Foundation's Board of Trustees has determined that funding will fall into the following categories: clinical research, physician and public awareness of the hazards of sleep-disordered breathing, and community philanthropic involvement. The primary focuses of Foundation Grants are "sleep and breathing," with limited funds available for community support.

Currently the Foundation plans to disburse a total of up to $1,350,000 annually. The Foundation will entertain proposals for multi-year studies, if warranted. However, for multi-year studies the Foundation will require an annual review at which time the board will ascertain whether the funded entity is keeping to its timeline and making progressive steps toward completion. The board may reserve the right to discontinue further funding if a study is not moving forward as outlined in the proposal, nor reaching recruitment goals.

SUBMISSION DEADLINES

Clinical Research Proposals

Application Deadline:
March 15
September 15

Decision Made By:
April 30
October 31

CLINICAL RESEARCH FOCUS

The Foundation's key mission is to promote novel research as well as public and physician awareness of sleep disordered breathing (SDB), with a primary focus on positive airway pressure therapies and ventilation-based treatments. The Foundation will consider proposals focused on the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and management of SDB and other respiratory disorders. Research areas of interest are also other morbidities that are associated with SDB which include cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and morbid obesity. In the cardiovascular area, there is a particular emphasis on hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Other areas of focus are: SDB in conjunction with occupational health safety, asthma and anesthesiology; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and, pregnancy/preeclampsia. Specific focus is on outcomes that can influence clinical practice in the near term.

Public and physician awareness of SDB is also an area of interest, however only programs that have wide outreach will be considered.

The Foundation is also interested in the application of novel screening and diagnostic tools to identify more easily SDB/OSA, as well as new and better paradigms to improve patient adherence and compliance with positive airway pressure and ventilation-based treatment methods.

The Foundation encourages the publication of results in appropriate peer reviewed scientific and medical publications.

A few examples of programs that the Foundation has funded are highlighted under Grant Recipients.

FUNDING REQUIREMENTS

Donor recipients must be a qualified tax-exempt organization under section 501 (c) 3 of the US Internal Revenue Service or have the equivalent designation by the federal governing agency in another country.

Grants will be given to organizations that demonstrate that they have competent management who have a history of delivering results in an effective and cost efficient manner.

Indirect costs: The Foundation's policy is to consider a maximum of 4% of indirect/overhead costs; however the board's preference is to fun direct (program) costs only.

Grants will be awarded with a clear expectation of measurable results and outcomes.

Reports to the Foundation will be required minimally on a semi-annual basis. In some cases quarterly reports are required. At the conclusion of the study a final report is required detailing how the funds were spent and definitive outcomes. The Foundation will be provided a copy of all abstracts and published reports.

A "Letter of Agreement" (LOA) between the grantee and grantor will be required once a grant has been approved, and prior to funding. Funding of Clinical Research grants are made in a minimum of two payments, with the first installment paid upon the grantor's receipt of two fully executed copies of the LOA. Subsequent payments will be contingent upon semi-annual reports and the Foundation board's assessment that patient recruitment is taking place and reasonable progress made.

In accordance with US Government policy, proof will be required that the organization is a legally designated not-for-profit organization and a legitimate research institution.